Ash-extractor for gas-producers.



' PATENTBD JULY 7, 1908; sMITMANs.

2 SHEETS-SHEET; 1.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5| 1907.

ASH EXTRAGTOR POR GAS PRODUCERS mw HZ... luk-Ball PATENTED JULY '7, 1908. J. A. SMITMANS. ASH EXTRACTOR FOR GAS PRODUCERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nl: zur-@Sl JOHN A. SMITMANS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ASH-EXTRACTOR FOR GAS-PRODUCERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1908.

Application filed November 5, 1907. Serial No. 400,775.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN A. SMITMANS, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ash-Extractors for Gas-Producers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gas producers and has particular reference to the means employed for removing the ashes and cinders from the ash hopper.

The invention 1s embodied in a horizontally movable extractor, preferably though not necessarily rotatable, and the primary object is to provide for a certain and positive dis lacement of the ashes, the action being suc as to thoroughly separate the ashes from the body of fuel contained in the fuel chamber. This is accomplished by holding the material above the extractor from moving with the latter, with the result that as the ashes work down they'are displaced and caused to drop into the ash pit.

In the rotatable form of extractor here shown, an important feature is the relative arrangement and inclination of the coperating ribs or blades of the fixed and movable view of the as portions of the mechanism.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of the improved producer. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the ash hop er. Fig. 3 is an inverted lan extractor mechanism. ig. 4 is a developed section of the ribs of the ash ho per and the blades of the extractor, taken onlline 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the water-cooled extremity of the blast pipe. Fig. 6 illustrates the improved ash hopper and extractor adapted to a blast pipe entering the lower end of the producer.

Referring to the drawings, the side walls 2 of the producer body are supported on posts 3 above the water pit 4, the lower portion of the ash hopper 5 being submerged in the water i'n the usual manner. Leading from the upper portion of the producer body is the gas out-take 9. The body is closed at the top by the hollow water-jacket structure 6, having the depending annular wall 7 which incloses the coal or other fuel magazine 8, while outside of this depending wall is the gas space 9. The to structure 6 is raised centrally at 10 and en arged to form the fuel hopper 11 which is closed by the lvertically movable bell 12. Extending through a central passageway in the bell is the blast pipe 13 which is sustained and may be raised and lowered as required by chains 14, passing to any suitable lifting and supporting mechanism, not shown. The bell may be similarly raised and lowered by chains 15 without disturbing the blast pipe, the vertically movable water seal 16 being arranged between the bell and the blast pipe to prevent the escape of gas without interfering with the movement of either part with relation to the other. The upper end of pipe 13 has telescoping connection with the blast supply pipe 17, through which air alone or air mixed with gas or steam may be introduced, the vertically movable water seal 18 preventing gas from escaping at the juncture of the pipes. Steam generated in the water-jacket of top structure 6 may be utilized in the blast, being conducted thereto through pipe 19. For coarse fuel through which the blast may easily pass, the position of the lower or discharge end of the blast pipe is comparatively low to avoid the formation of too great a percentage of CO2 gas, and from such( position is raised according to the fineness of the fuel.

lt will be understood that the lower end of the blast pipe is embedded in the fuel being consumed, and to protect the same it is provided with the flaring or mouth-like ring 20 which is .hollow for the circulation of water, with the water-circulating pipes 21 and 22 connected thereto and leading upward through pipe 13. ln side walls 2 are the usual poke holes 23 closed by plugs 24.

' Ash hopper 5 is open vertically save for the central cone 25, from which radiate horizontal ribs 26 to the' annular wall of the hopper. Instead of being disposed vertically, the ribs are preferably tipped or inclined laterally to present the sloping faces 26 to the ashes and cinders and over which faces the latter readily pass in their descent.

Rotatable beneath the ribbed lower portion of the ash hopper is the circular and rotatable extractor which consists of an outer ring 27 and the inner ring 28, with a series of blades 29 between and secured to the rings. These blades are preferably inclined in parallel planes and so spaced apart that the lower portion of each blade underlaps the upper portion of the next blade, being at the same time spaced vertically therefrom, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, thus forming the 4diagonal ash passages 29. The distance between the top edges of adjacent blades 29 is preferably face of hopper 5.

the same as the distances between the lower edges of adjacent bars 26. The rotation of the extractor causes the ashes and cinders to iiow downward through diagonal passages 29 and discharge over the lower edgesrof the blades, the action being suggestive of the blades of a fan or blower, or of the blades of a turbine. The ashes thus discharged into pit 5 slide down the inclined bottom of the latter and away from beneath the producer, as will be understood.

yTo facilitate the clearing of the coarse ashes hopper from rotating with the extractor, and

it is obvious that the presence of only one rib 26 would prevent this. It is also clear that the extractor may be constructed with a greater or less number of blades 29 and diagonal passages 29 than here shown, or even with only one such passage. Ribs 26 and blades 29 need not necessarily correspond in number, so that there may be more or less of one than the other.

For supporting and rotating the extractor, the outer ring 27 of the latter is flanged outwardly at 32 to rest on rollers 33, the latter journaled in brackets 34 secured to the outer The circular toothed rack 35 on the outer edge of 'Harige 32 is in mesh with the gear wheel 36 on the short vertical shaft 3S with drive shaft 39. Thus, a substantial roller support is provided for the extractor, together with simple and eiiicien means for effecting its rotation.

In Fig. 6 the improved ash hopper and extractor are shown adapted to a blast pipe entering the lower portion of the producer instead of the upper portion, as in the preferred embodiment. For this adaptation, the cone-cap 25 of Fig. 1 is omitted and in place thereof the central passage 40 is provided through which the blast pipe 13enters, being provided at its inner end with the usual bonnet 41.

1. An ash extractor for gas producers consisting of a body having openings therethrough from top to bottom forming pas-` sages for the discharge of ashes from above, the passages being disposed diagonally and having inclined or sloping walls over which the ashes pass.

2. An ash extractor for gas producers consisting of la body having openings theredischarge end are in wholly different vertical planes.

3. An ash extractor for gas producers having a series of inclined blade-like members spaced apart to form inclined passages for the discharge of ashes from above.

4. An ash extractor for gas producers having a series of inclined blade-like members spaced apart to form passages for the disc arge of ashes from above, the upper portion of each blade overlap ing the lower portion of the blade next a jacent to prevent movement of ashes through the extractor in a vertical plane.

5. The combination of a producer body open at the bottom, an ash extractor movl able horizontally beneath the open bottom,

means preventing movement of ashes in the body with the extractor, the extractor having diagonal openings extending from top to bottom to form inclined passages having sloping walls over which the ashes pass.

6. The combination of a producer body, an ash hopper therefor having an open bottom provided with ribs and a movable ash extractor beneath the hopper, the extractor having blades spaced apart and operating with the ribs of the hopper for discharging as es.

7. Thecombination of a producer body, a i

vertically open ash hopper, radially arranged ribs within the hopper, and a rotatable ash extractor beneath the hopper and having blades spaced a art which operate with the hopper ribs for discharging the ashes.

3. The combination of a producer body, i

an annular vertically open ash hopper having an open bottom, ribs arranged radially within the hopper and having downwardly sloping faces", and a rotatable ash extractor beneath the hopper, the extractor having a series of radially arranged inclined and laterally overlapping blades, the blades being spaced apart vertically and cooperating with the ribs of the hopper for extracting the ashes.

9. The combination of a producer body, an annular ash hopper therefor having an open bottom, radially arranged ribs secured in the hopper, and a rotatable extractor beneath the hopper, the extractor having blades spaced apart and cooperating with the ribs of the hopper for removing the ashes, the lower edges of said ribs and the upper edges of said blades being serrated, for the purpose described.

10. The combination of a producer body, an annular ash hopper therefor, a conical j art in the center of the hopper body, ribs radiating from said conical part to the shell of the hopper with vertically opening spaces between the ribs, a rotatable ash extractor' beneath the hopper, the extractor having a central ortion beneath the said conical part, anc blades between the central part and the outer portion of the extractor, the blades being spaced apart and eoperating with the ribs of the hopper for removing the ashes.

11. The 'combination of a producer body, an ash hopper therefor, ribs in the hopper with vertically open spaces between the ribs, an annular support at the bottom ofthe hopper, an ash extractor rotatable on the sup- 15 port, and blades on the extractor, the blades being spaced apart and cooperating with said ribs for removing the ashes.

In testimony whereof I aHix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. SMITMANS. Witnesses:

ANDREW W. BRADLEY, J. A. JoNEs. 

